MIAA champion Mavericks head to D-II Men's Tourney

The Mavericks will open the first round of the NCAA South Central Region tournament Saturday as the No. 5 seed against No. 4 Tarleton State in Wichita Falls, Texas. The winner will play either Midwestern State, the host and top seed in the tournament, or Incarnate Word, the No. 8 seed on Sunday. The region final will be Tuesday.
The Mavericks (22-8) earned their 12th berth into the tournament by winning the MIAA Postseason Tournament Sunday with a 69-67 victory over Washburn. Tarleton State (23-7) finished as runner-up in the Lone Star Conference tournament with MSU winning it.
The other half of the bracket features an MIAA battle with No. 2 Central Missouri playing No. 7 Missouri Western. No. 3 Fort Hays State plays No. 6 Central Oklahoma in the other first round game.
The Mavericks were in a lot of close games this season against nationally ranked teams within their conference. The Mavs lost two games to 2nd ranked Central Missouri by a total of nine points. The Mavs also lost tough games to Ft. Hays State who was ranked in the top 10 most of the season, including an 82-80 final on the road when the Tigers were ranked third in the nation.
Nebraska-Omaha (22-8) won its first MIAA trophy in just its second year in the league holding off Washburn 69-67. Click here for the postgame press conferece.